Method of binding books



Sept. 11, 1956 w. MEYER METHOD OF BINDING BOOKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 8, 1949 INVENTOR Walzer Me} 1' BY /Z'4-:ATTORNEY Sept. 11, 1956 w. MEYER 2,762,066

METHOD OF BINDING BOOKS Filed Nov. 8, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR l Valier Meyer Sept. 11, 1956 w. MEYER METHOD OF BINDING BOOKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 8, 1949 INVENTOR Walzer Meyer '8! 4 %TT0RNEY 1 2,762,066 METHOD OF BINDING BOOKS Walter Meyer, Northport, N. Y. Application November 8, 194-9, Serial No. 126,137 14 Claims. (Cl. 11-1) This invention relates to a method of binding books and more particularly to the binding of book signatures, and still more particularly to apparatus for carrying out book binding operations.

This application is refiled as a substitute-in-part for my application Serial No. 603,664, filed July 7, 1945, entitled Method of Book Binding, and now abandoned.

My invention is concerned with the carrying out of the binding of books which will effect economies in the time involved for completing such operations and avoid the delay, expense as well as avoiding the need for the storage space involved in book binding processes heretofore employed.

My invention has for its object the provision of a method for effecting the book binding operations in which the elements for uniting a stack of signatures up to the point of casing-in may be conducted with economy and speed as obtained by reducing the handling operations while at the same time providing a book binding of great strength and durability.

My invention seeks to avoid the long delay and expense of binding as heretofore practiced, especially with those binding operations employing glue bonds for uniting signatures to the crash or super, backing and head bands, and which operations involve the employment of normally wet adhesive which requires periods of setting and drying between each operation to etfect the union of the components of the book.

In accordance with the method for practicing my invention and the apparatus for carrying out such method, a stack of signatures is score-folded to expose the folded and scored edges in a composite edge for forming the book backing, and while under clamping pressure to prevent displacement, the back edge is coated with an adhesive, which is partially dried after application and then simultaneously with the application of the crash and backing, efiecting a spreading and setting of the adhesive, whereupon a reactivation of the adhesive through the backing and crash will effect a union of the signature pages with each other and to the backing, by the agency of heat, which also will effect the conversion of the adhesive to an irreversible state of plasticity except at temperatures above 200 F.

More specifically, my invention has for its object the provision of a method for effecting the book binding steps wherein spreading and uniting of the backing adhesive to the bookbinders crash and backing paper is eifected under heat, to be able to proceed directly to the casing-in step without delay.

Still further it is an object of my invention to effect economies in book binding and to unite the signatures to each other and to the backing sheet without any alteration in the procedural step with regard to the character of paper employed, to permit similar procedural steps to be carried out whether the paper is porous and absorbent, glazed, calendered, hard coated and variations thereof.

My invention still more particularly has for its object the provision of a method for carrying out book binding steps including the stacking of perforated signatures, the shifting of the edge of a stack of such signatures in echelon while simultaneously setting the adhesive under heat and pressure to efiect an intimate distribution of a setting adhesive, uniting the pages constituting the signatures to each other and to other signatures, providing in the book that is formed an intimate union of the pages, free from any defects as to running of adhesive or breakage upon sharp folding, to secure durability and intimacy of bonding of the pages in a manner effected heretofore only by laborious hand sewing operations.

Still more particularly, it is an object of my invention to provide a device for carrying out book binding operations which are effective independently of the character of paper employed and the provision of apparatus for edgewise arranging the folds of signatures in echelon, while setting the adhesive for uniting the signature edges to each other and to the reinforcement comprising the crash and backing elements, to proceed to the stage for casing-in without the storage herefore deemed necessary.

Still further it is an object of my invention to provide a method and apparatus which will eflz'ect large economies in carrying out the book binding operations;

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein, or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawing forming apart hereof, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a signature before the final fold;

Figure 2 is a magnified fragmentary section of the fold of the signature shown in Figure l; 1

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 after folding;

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 44 of Figure 2 after folding;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a stack of signatures in accordance with my invention;

Figures 6 to 11 are sections showing the progressive steps in carrying out my method;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of apparatus for carrying out the method;

Figure 13 is a magnified fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a magnified fragmentary section taken on the line 14-14 of Figure 13.

Summarizing my invention, I provide a method of binding books in which, in the preferred form, a stack of signatures is clampedand under such condition the edge to be bound is coated with a heat settable adhesive. I prefer to use signatures, the last fold line whereof has been folded upon a perforated line for sharp folding leaving interrupted remnants. The backing strip has the super or crash superimposed thereon, with or Without an interposed layer of adhesive, and under such condition of the stack of signatures it is treated simultaneously to distribute the adhesive and to activate the same whilespreading the signature edges in a more or less echelon position. This treatment serves to set by heat and pressure the composite of backing strip, crash and the adhesive to the signature edges, uniting the same to the backing strip and integrating the binding to attach all pages of a signature together, and all independent signatures to each other, the simultaneous spreading and setting action avoiding those more prolonged and tedious steps emloyed in present binding operations. i

The invention may be summarized as also providing a machine for binding a stack of perforated signatures, providing apparatus whereby the signature edges. are fanned out or formed in echelon while activating to adhesiveness and setting the same by heat and pressure, forming an adhesive film to drive the adhesive into the edges of the pages constituting the signature, and to join groups of signatures to each other and to the crash and backing liner.

Making reference to the drawing, my invention concerns itself-with thebook binding steps preceding casing-in andtinyolues the initialiormation of the usual signatures hearth; 9991s ases hthwartin .thenpens natut '10 is shown disclosing to view the last fold 11, which has 'beenperformed'by a perforation process to have incised men 31QP lt6da wm-cmmgqfi lg we site- :est qh presents for union zthe, serrated-edges .143, of the pages as .aresultof roller.iperforaticnempl y in making incision 12, and aseries of loops 17 .Qonstituting the-folded able .of folding process previously d s ribe in making .each signature.

1t will'be ohseryed that while the center loop 18 is spaced inwardly from .the outer loop 19, the serrated .cut edges.:16 .will tend .to hringzsome of the extreme edges of the center pages more or less in alignment with some portion-.ofthe.opposededges of theoutermost pages due .to the-wavyoutline .of the perforation device employed for making .the perforation 12.

In accordance with my method, witha stack arranged as shown in Figure 5, I thenposition the stacl; in a clamp whosejaws 20 and 21 hold the stack to expose a section" 22 free to hinge or bend inparallelism to the book-back above the clamp edges 23. In this position, the

edge may remain flat or may berrounded by means of a back -former. Thereupon theadhesive binding operation is performed by means'of heat activatable, thermoplastic, heat irreversible adhesive .at predetermined temp'eratu're's; For this purposethe adhesive which I employ is a synthetic resin known on the market as Akton synthetic'adhesive. This material is an emulsion of a high polymer acetate, constituting =po yvinyl acetate in an The emulsion in the aqueous suspensoid or vehicle. aqueous medium is of a viscosity of 250-350 centipoises (viscosity of a solution containing 86 grams of polymerized vinyl acetate in 1000' grams of benzine solution at C.). Plasticizers known for this type of the vinyl polymer-and accelerators'to form a thermo-setting', heat irreversible resin are also preferably, though not necessarily, included in the film forming emulsion. The adhesive when air dried or force dried leaves a film of permanent flexibility. Under temperatures of approximately 200 and pressure to flex the sheet as applied to the air driedfilm and described hereafter, the film first melts and then sets. Thereafter heat up to 200 F. fails to V soften thefilm and the film is characterized by permanent flexibility and great tensile strength. The film'may how-.

ever redissolvebut is irreversible to softening or will not meltatjtemperatures below200 F. Upon resorting to air .or forced drying step, the residual filmbefore applying the heat and pressure retains suflicient waterto activate water soluble adhesivesand sizes presentin the paper and in the other components of the book comprising glue sized and stiffened crash or super.

The air dried or forcerdried film after exercising its gluejsized activation under heat and pressure will flow and'become plastic, and then will set to be unaffected by heat as to plasticity at temperatures below 200 'F. and accordingly is a thermoplastic. film above 200 F.

With the'adhesive thus described provided, a film layer 24 is applied by brush ,or transfer roll andthen air or force-dried by warm circulating Thereupon the layer of book binders crash or super 25 is applied lightly, as

uitable toggl i k .23.-

applied as part of the process for adhering the paper hacks. In this condition the backing is .then rubbed by.

a rolling action beginning at the center of the stack and rolling first in one direction toward one side of the book stack, as shown in Figure 9, applying the heat of about 200 F. andpressure to flex the-overhanging 22 longitudinally of thejclan p before revQISing to the center. The

flexing p essur a r n es th ed e o t e s shah ae in 5 echelon, or to fan them-outa-nd in this condition the edges adhesiveness to form a compatible bond.

On the return roll towardlthe cententhe ,opppsed race n edges of the te hahgi st i a s i h ed w th, adhesive and the adhesive set to thesaidthermallyf una c sta e o p a c t at t mpera u e p to heleiv .200" R, and accordingly is thermoplastic -ahove ,sueh

temperature. The rolling and spreading operation under flexing pressure is repeated for the other halt .oflthe stack a in the same manneiaas shownin Figure 10.

Figure 11 shows the adhesive driven into and spread n th ed a d e t nded t .th -ed sso h g ht thh t pages whichextendbeyond the hinge line of book when opened.

' The operations described may be. perfermed bylthe; apparatus illustrated in Figure .12, wherein the ,clampigg j ws 2e andZl may he 'mhvcd' wan sash her'lhy standards are, proyided with slide guides 35 ,and .55 in Which i e he'siisiah es he .3 ndfi T es e h 'formed on the outer faces withrack teeth 3Q, engagedy h gears or ih hsfiik Th se Pihihh a o a s o counter-shaft 32a lgeyed to a worm gearqgttl which in turn is coupled with theworm wheel A1, .drigen by the cro haft. to he t ned QI ott rch by t e h n wheel 43. .Theshoes' 3;6 and 37 'proyide bearirrgsto trunnion the roll 44. revolubly whichare supportedat.

thehubs 45 thereot. rolle tlris suppliedIinter-iorly it a hsa h s il 46 m unt d 1 .2. the aehtrally Posh:

dos a bor 47. The leagls 4$ a chested fi th-ugh h shoe 36 to. a suitable. source. of. el ect icv c u grent, Pm id m an for e s rihllYh h ihs heml 4 a epe am s 1Q t hnsmh r h i hsa tizt l R a cross. r 9 i cohhs ts t he en s 4 i t e tanda ds l ter @949 ermit m nual i the is hsee t e ure he tilt hamhvsmsht t -d est th 9 1 44 to th Po it ns i lu t at Figures? n -1h. P9nmPlI Q QfIh rhlhhas e s the acti n erie to ub he pap o uh eal h helaye 9f a he ive to the back of the stack; The heatrand pressure serve set the adhesiye to the thermally unaiiected statetof Plasticity he p s cr hs -tempetah e hniti s hesheets s al timesha e-mi ced he; he s ashed he Present P a ic wit lue egs! eolsihsed si e By my process and with the apparatus described, Steps, q i k y e ecu ed hte'nscessary ofprephxre the bec andlmake it-ready for "-casingin.- Thismay be cpm trasted with present known pperationsxfor book binding to achieve relatively-the same condition and whichjimvalve: 7 v V 1. Sewing or sawing, Ap ly ng he wstig ue; Dly h v h b d ma hin hash 29 15 provided with piyotal standards-,0; levers 3 0;an d;; havi g ca e h lancing heights ,32 andt 3- he U Backing with the back former and rounding; Applying a second coating of wet adhesive; Applying crash or super;

Gluing over crash of another wet adhesive; Applying head bands and paper backing; Rubbing paper to unite all layers; 10. Drying by air or force drying; 11. Storing to set adhesive before casing-in.

The foregoing prior art operations may take from twenty to thirty minutes, where forced drying is employed, or to several hours if provisions for forced drying are not available, and storage facilities must be provided before the casing-in operation is performed.

It will be understood that While I have shown and preferred the perforation of the paper to produce the fold 11 by a perforating device known to produce a wind perforation made by a continuous winding of the web through perforating rolls, in that this form of perforation leaves the incised segments with serrated edges to some extent but not preferred, the alternate incisions may be knife-cuts followed by abrasions employing a suitable abrading device, to level off the edges of the pages in each signature to expose the edges of the pages at the inner fold and make them accessible to the adhesive to be applied.

It will also be understood that while I have described initially the step of drying the adhesive films 24 and .27 by air or forced drying (circulating dry or warmed air) before applying the heat and pressure as described by me, I may only partially dry the adhesive. The adhesive for the film 24 need only be dried sufliciently so that the pages will not shift out of place. Drying to retain a residual amount of water of from to 25%, preferably 10% has been found adequate for my purpose at this stage. Likewise, in applying the backing strip 26 with the adhesive film 27, the film need not be dried before applying the heat and pressure by the roll 44-, since the sheet 26 acts as a separator permitting direct contact of the back thereof, with the roll 44 to dry and set the adhesive at temperatures below the scorching point of the paper, and preferably at 200 F. as described.

It will be observed that in accordance with the method described and the apparatus as described, five steps executed as follows, are involved:

- 5. Rubbing under heat and pressure simultaneously to unite all layers.

These five steps permit the book to be cased-in within two seconds, as compared with the eleven steps heretofore outlined, as performed by the prior book binding procedure with wet glue.

It will be observed that while I have described the application of the adhesive to a stack of clamped signatures, it is contemplated by me that the glueing operation initially applied may be to a group of unclamped signatures, singly or groups of such stacks, and thereafter initially drying to retain the residual moisture as indicated, but to permit manual handling without shifting and then removing such stacks to the device hereinbefore described for applying the crash, paper, etc. for the heat and pressure steps described.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

' 1. In the method of book binding a stack before casing-in which includes the steps of coating a thermoplastic adhesive film in an aqueous suspension on the back of a stack of pages overlying a crash and backing layer and then simultaneously spreading the adhesive under heat and pressure on the edge of the stack and about the edges and side of the pages by rounding, to set the adhesive to a heat irreversible state of plasticity below 200 F.

2. In the method of book binding a stack of signatures before casing-in which includes the steps of clamping a stackof signatures, the fold line of each of which signatures having wind perforation, coating an aqueous emulsion of a thermo-plastic synthetic plastic on the stack, drying to the point where the signatures will not move out of place without setting the coating, applying a layer of crash and a backing strip and rubbing the backing strip 'to the composite of crash and adhesive, to unite the backing strip and pages to each other under heat and pressure to flare the stack and distribute by rounding and to set the adhesive to a heat irreversible state of plasticity below 200 F.

3. In the method of book binding which includes stacking signatures with the back fold having wind perforations substantially co-terminous, clamping the stack to leave an overhang unclamped, levelling the edge of the stack by abrasion to expose the edges of the pages at the inner fold, coating the backing of the stack on the back fold with an aqueous emulsion of a polymerized vinyl compound, partially drying the adhesive so applied, superimposing a sized crash and backing strip carrying an adhesive and then rolling the backing to distribute the adhesive while simultaneously heating the adhesive, the signatures being rolled to flare or fan the overhanging back folds to spread the adhesive on the edge and about the sides of the signature to simultaneously unite the backing strip and signature to the crash and set the adhesive.

4. In the method of book binding a stack of signatures before casing-in, employing paper which is sized, coated, calendered, which includes providing the signatures with back fold having wind perforations, clamping the fold so formed, levelling the edge of the stack by abrasion to expose the edges of the pages at the inner fold, coating the backing of the stack with an aqueous emulsion of a polymerized vinyl compound capable of being set by heat and pressure to a heat irreversible state of plasticity within limits of 200 F., partially drying the coating so that the signatures will not shift out of place when manually handled while retaining residual moisture of from 10% to 25%, applying crash having a water activatable size, superimposing a backing strip carrying an adhesive comprising an aqueous emulsion of a heat settable polyvinyl acetate and then simultaneously applying heat and pressure to set and merge the adhesive layers.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein the heat and pressure are applied by a rolling action to flare the stack of signatures and distribute the adhesive on and about the edges of the signature and sides thereof.

6. In the method of book binding before casing-in which includes the steps of forming on a group of signatures a back fold having wind perforations and folding the same about said row of wind perforations, arranging the folds substantially co-terminously to form the book back and levelling the edges by abrading to expose the edges of the pages at the inner fold, clamping the stack so formed leaving an overhang unclamped, applying a layer of a thermo-plastic adhesive, partially drying the adhesive, overlying a strip of crash, a layer of adhesive and a backing strip, rubbing to round the backing strip to the stack under heat and pressure to distribute the adhesive and to set the same to an irreversible state of plasticity at temperatures below 200 F. uniting the crash and backing strip to each other and to the edges of the signatures, the rubbing pressure under heat being extended to distribute the adhesive through the perforations, to reach the inner pages of the signatures.

7. The method of. binding books before casing-in which includes the steps of forming signatures and proarcades ding w n tp c ations th l st ba fi ld, s king thesignatures .with .said fold ,co-termino usly and levelling theredgesghy ,abrading to :expos'e th'e edges of th'epages at the inner fold, clamping said stack to leave an'overang, @PPIY gaH emulsionof a high polymer polyvinyl acfitate in an aqueous suspensoid-including .a plasticizer and an accelerator, said emulsion having a viscosity of 250.150 .350 ,celntipoises, partially drying the adhesive to leave a residu al.;moisture of from to overlying a strip of .crash ,sized with a -water compatible adhesive and anotherlayerlofathe adhesive and backing strip, applying ,heat and pressure to :set the adhesive and to distribute the adhesive on theedge' and about-the sides of the signature .to direct the adhesive through theperforations to ,thecenterpages of thesignature and .to round abrading toeexpose the edges ,of the pages at the innerfold, clamping .thestackto expose the back forming portion and applying alayer. of thermoplastic adhesive which under heat. is convertible to a heat irreversible state of plasticity at temperatures bejlowZOO"v F, applying a layer of crash and'a back cover strip and uniting the strips to the stack of signatures under heat and pressure, to distribute the adhesivetinto theperforations of the back ;f old and .to set theadhesivetoa heat irreversible state of p1as ticity below 200 F. but to remain thermo-plastic above such temperature. 7

9. A process in accordance with claim .8 wherein the plastic adhesive and a strip of crash, superimposing a back' cover strip audrolling the ,strip into uniting position to flare the back folded edgesand to distribute theadhesive about the edges and sides of the signatures and into the wind perforations-leave a serrated edge on the disconperforations to reach the. edges :of the center pages and to set the adhesive.

n the m n f ctures ook the s p of st blishinga book block consisting essentially of a multiplicity of. separate leavesand having a smooth'back edge surface wherein an edge portionof each leaf is squarely ex.-

po ed a hel e bf s dsu fac pply t a ba k edge surface and in edgewise adhesive engagement with each said leaf a water-insoluble adhesive in a flowahle m t con t tute a dhesive lay e nding oss id ba edge su c an he afle a d hile said adhesive in an at least partially plastic state, rounding and backing the book. block by mechanical deformation of its back edge surface to provide said block with a rounded hinge defining configuration which is adapted.

for application .ofa hard casing to the block, said rounding and backing operation including flaring the leaves of the block toward each side of the back edge surface to constitute ridges at the sides of said surface for providing said hingerdefining configuration, and said adhesive thereafter setting to maintain the said configuration with the leaves bound together by the said adhesive at their back edges. 7 a V V Y 2- n h manufac u ed. ooks, the st ps of s lishing a book block consisting, essentially of a multiplicity of separate leaves and having a smooth back. edge surtacewherein an edge portion of each leaf is squarely exposedat the level of: said surface, applyingto said back' edge. surface av thermoplastic, water-insoluble adhesive layerv extending-across said surface in adhesive engagement with each of the leaves edgewise thereof, and thereafter and while'maintaining said adhesive sufl'rciently plastic to permit its. yielding without rupture of said layer, displacing the leaves relative to each other to constitute a rounded back edge surface and flaring the leaves toward each .side'of the'back edge surfaceito constitute; hinge-defining ridges .at the sides of said surface, to pro vide a rounded and backed block adapted for application of a hard casing thereto, saidradhesivelayer thereafter setting to hold said backedges of the leaves in the rounded and flared configuration.

13. In the manufacture of books, the steps of estab-"" lishing a book block consisting of a multiplicity of'sep arate leaves having'a smooth'back edge surface in which an edge portion of each component leaf is squarely ex-.

drying the adhesive to solidify the same, roundingand backing said back edge surface by mechanical deforma-, tion with the adhesive atan elevated temperature which renders it yieldableagains't rupture of its adhesive bond,

said rounding and -backing operation providing the book block witha rounded, hinge-defining configuration which is permanently maintained when .the adhesive is fully cooled and set and'which is adapted for application of a I hard casing tothe block,'and said rounding and backing.

operationincluding flaring the leaves of the block toward each side .of the back edge surface to constitute ridges 1' 'at the sides of said surface for providing said hinge-defining configuration which is -maintained as aforesaid 5" when the adhesive is set. i

14. In the manufacture of books, the steps .of establishing a book block consisting of a multiplicity of sep arate leaves having a smooth back edge surface in which the edge of each component leaf is squarely exposed, ap-,' plying to said back edge surface an insoluble thermo-plastic adhesive dispersed ina water emulsion thereof and} adapted to penetrate edgewise-into each leaf, drying the adhesive to solidify the same, rounding and'backing said? back edge surface by mechanical deformation with the, I

adhesive atran elevated temperature which renders it yieldable against rupture of its adhesive {bond, said rounding and backing operation providing the book block with; a rounded, hinge-defining configuration which is permanently maintained when the adhesive is, fully cooled and set and which is adaptedfor application of a hard casing to the block, and said rounding and backing operation including flaring the leaves of the block toward each side of the back edge surface to constitute ridges at the sides of said surface for providing said hinge-defining config'i- 'uration which is maintained as aforesaid when'the'ad hesive is set.

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pub-. 

